Paul E. Vrana - Texas Energy and Derivatives Lawyer

Paul E. Vrana

Partner, Fort Worth Office

Biography
Involvement
Recognition
Speeches / Publications
News

Concentration

Energy Trading, Derivatives, Structured Commodity Transactions, Natural Gas Prepay Transactions

Biography

Paul E. Vrana is the co-chair of Jackson Walker's Energy practice group. He has worked in the energy industry since 1986 and has practiced energy law since 1992. Prior to joining Jackson Walker, Mr. Vrana was General Counsel for Tractebel Energy Marketing, Inc. Since joining Jackson Walker, he has served as lead outside counsel to several energy trading and marketing divisions of international and domestic energy companies and investor owned utilities.

Mr. Vrana has particular experience with deregulated power and gas markets and routinely advises organizations on legal and credit matters related to these markets. He has handled a broad range of energy transactions including wholesale and retail gas and power purchase and sale agreements, long-term fuel supply and power sales agreements, energy-based derivatives and gas processing, balancing, transportation and storage transactions. He also has extensive experience with credit and risk mitigation arrangements including guaranties, margin agreements, letters of credit, master netting agreements, letters of direction and prepayment arrangements. Mr. Vrana supported two large foreign utilities in the development of each of their U.S. energy trading and marketing operations. He has also assisted several U.S. entities in developing the infrastructure to begin commodity risk management activity and has provided ongoing legal support to these organizations.

Mr. Vrana has been extensively involved in helping clients mitigate their exposure to bankrupt trading counterparties. He has worked closely with Jackson Walker's bankruptcy and litigation teams to help clients evaluate their energy contracts and credit support documents, develop risk mitigation strategies and execute those strategies to optimize their utilization of the safe harbor protections of the bankruptcy code. He has also worked extensively with clients to draft energy contracts that provide maximum protection in the event of a bankruptcy.

Mr. Vrana has extensive experience with highly structured long-term energy transactions including natural gas prepay transactions financed via tax exempt municipal bonds, energy management agreements, first lien credit structures and sole-supplier natural gas and power transactions.

Attorney Profile: Paul Vrana — Expertise in energy

More about Paul E. Vrana: Involvement | Recognition | Speeches / Publications | News

Organization Membership

Mr. Vrana is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association, and the American Bar Association (Sections on Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law and Business Law).

More about Paul E. Vrana: Biography | Recognition | Speeches / Publications | News

Peer Recognition

Mr. Vrana is listed in The Best Lawyers in America under Derivatives and Futures Law, Energy Law, and Natural Resources Law. He has also been named a "Top Lawyer" by H Texas magazine.

More about Paul E. Vrana: Biography | Involvement | Speeches / Publications | News

Speeches / Publications

In 2010, Mr. Vrana co-authored "Credit Tools Used in Structured Energy Transactions," which was published in the book Energy and Environmental Project Finance Law and Taxation: New Investment Techniques.

Mr. Vrana's other articles include:

Links to Publications